Kopeika

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A monetary unit used in Russia and other former Soviet republics that is equal to one-hundredth of a ruble
2. The smallest denomination of currency in Russia, serving as a subdivision of the ruble that facilitates transactions
3. A currency unit in the former Soviet Union, representing a fractional value of the ruble commonly used in daily exchanges

Etymology: Russian "копейка" (kopeika) is the coin's native name, and the English spelling is a transliteration of it. The word is a doublet of "kopek," "kopiyka," and "kapeek," which are separate English adaptations of the same Russian source, each reflecting a different spelling system or pronunciation. So the same word has entered English several times over, through different transliteration conventions rather than through separate borrowings. The Russian word itself is the diminutive-style form tied to "копьё" (kopyo), meaning "spear," a link that appears in older accounts of the coin's name, since early Muscovite coins were stamped with a rider holding a spear. Russian and English spelling choices have led to four different English forms, so readers may encounter any of them.

Synonyms: kopeck, cent, penny, centime, copper